I. JUDAH (PRAISE) WAS TO GO
UP FIRST (1:1-2). Judah (praise) invited Simeon (hearkening or
answered prayer) to go up with him (1:3).
A. THE FIRST BATTLE IS AT
BEZEK (lightening)
With the Canaanites -
(merchandiser or peddler)
With the Perizzites -
(squatter; inhabitant of the open country)
3. With
Adoni (lord) Bezek (a flash of lightening; to be lower; to judge; to
domineer). They cut off his thumbs and big toes to prevent him from
being able to carry a sword or run. He had done the same thing to
others and saw his own mutilation as reciprocity.
B. THE
SECOND BATTLE WAS FOR JERUSALEM (double peace)
C. THE THIRD BATTLE WAS FOR
HEBRON (communion) WHICH FORMERLY
WAS KIRJATH (city or
walled city) ARBA (the croucher or strength of Baal, four). Here
they killed the three sons of Anak (long necked) (Joshua 15:14).
Sheshai - my fine linen
garments or whitish (self-righteousness)
Ahirran - brother of a
portion or of fortune (self-satisfaction)
Talmai - my furrows (unplanted
barrenness)
D. THE FOURTH BATTLE WAS
FOR DEBIR (oracle, the letter comes alive) WHICH FORMERLY WAS
KIRJATH SEPHER (city of books, the old library).
1. The conqueror of
Kirjath Sepher was Othniel (lion of God or strength of God), to whom
Caleb (dog) gave his daughter Achsah (anklet, tinkling, bursting the
veil, revelation).
2. Together (Achsah and
Othniel) seek springs of water that they might be fruitful.
E. JUDAH'S FIRST FAILURE
VAS TO ALLOW THE KENITES (smith or fabricator) TO DWELL AMONG THEM.
F. THE FIFTH BATTLE WAS FOR
HORMAH (destruction) WHICH WAS FORMERLY ZEPHATH (watchful). That which
was once a stronghold for Satan, is destroyed
G. THE SIXTH BATTLE WAS
AGAINST THREE OF FIVE IMPORTANT PHILISTINE CITIES.
Gaza - strong; a goat
Ashkelon - fire of infamy
Ekron - barrenness; torn
away, uprooting
H. JUDAH'S SECOND FAILURE
WAS IN NOT DRIVING OUT THE INHABITANTS OF THE LOWLANDS BECAUSE THEY
HAD IRON CHARIOTS. According to Joshua 17:16-18, Ephraim (doubly
fruitful) and Manasseh (forget: forgiveness) could have helped Judah
win this victory.
I. HEBRON WAS GIVEN TO
CALEB, WHO IN TURN DROVE OUT THE THREE SONS OF ANAK (neck chain; long
necked).
II. BENJAMIN (son of
the right hand). Benjamin (power) allowed the Jebusites (he
will be trodden down) to dwell with them in Jerusalem (double peace).
III. JOSEPH (let Him
add). Joseph warred against that which had been named Luz (separation)
and then became Bethel (house of God). Luz speaks of a legalistic
separation or independence. Here we must ask, are we separating
ourselves from one another or unto God.
IV. MANASSEH
(forgetting). Manasseh faild to purge the land and only enslaved the
Canaanites when in the position of superior strength. Failure to forgive
leaves these in the land.
A. BETH
SHEAN (house of silence or house of quiet)
B. TAANACH
(she will afflict thee)
C. DOR
(generation; dwelling or habitation; circle of the years of life)
D. IBLEAM
(he will swallow or devour them, he destroys the people)
E. MEDGIDDO
(place of troops; place of multitudes; invading; gathering for
cutting, his cutting place)
V. EPHRAIM
(doubly fruitful). He failed to drive the Canaanites out of Gezer (a
piece; a portion--as cut off). When Manasseh fails, Ephraim fails.
Fruitfulness is cut off, it is not established.
VI. ZEBULON
(dwelling; to exalt or honor). They failed to drive out the
inhabitants of Kitron (knotty; to be bound; burning or incense burner)
and Nahalol (where sheep were led; to lead out; to lead to water; to
provide for; being tended), and merely put them under tribute.
VII. ASHER
(happy). They failed to drive out the inhabitants of the following
cities.
A. ACCO
(his straightness)
B. SIDON
(hunting)
C. AHLAB (I
shall be made fat)
D. ACHZIB
(I shall make a lie)
E. HELBAH
(fatness)
F APHIK
(channel; restraint)
G. REHOB
(broad place as a modern square or plaza)
VIII. NAPHTALI (my
wrestling, more literally, wrestlings of God). They failed to drive
out the inhabitants of the following places.
A. BETH SHEMESH (house of
the sun)
B. BETH ANATH (house of
response or affliction)
IX. DAN (judging, a
judge). He was forced into the mountains by the Amorites (a sayer; the
lofty ones). The Amorites contended to dwell in the following cities.
Later the house of Joseph put them under tribute. The boundary of the
Amorites was from the Ascent of Akrabbim (scorpions) and Sela (a rock,
crag, cf. 2Kings 14:7) and upward.
A. MOUNT HERES (the sun)
B. AIJALON (deer field, a
large stag)
C. SHALLBIM (he regarded
the hearts; he gathered the lions).